This Is Blackmail, Ekiti House Speaker Accuses Governor Fayose

November 12, 2014

Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the state governor Ayodele Fayose of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of blackmailing and intimidating the State House of Assembly because of the APC’s members refusal to defect to PDP.
He said such blackmail and intimidation are going beyond approved standards of modern governance.
A statement by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, said the latest allegation that the lawmakers demanded N135 million ‎for them to screen governor Fayose’s commissioner-nominees was a propaganda taken too far, adding that it was against the grains of decency in a fledgling democracy.
Omirin, who said he would not have reacted if not for the gullible public that would be deceived by the Executive lies, expressed worry over media reports in which the executive accused the House of Assembly as a stumbling block to governor‎ Fayose’s bid to constitute his cabinet.
The speaker described the reports as misleading even as he stressed that the House would not be distracted from its record of integrity in making quality laws for Ekiti people as done in the last four years.
The House, he added, had made 74 laws without demanding for money, saying: “the standard practice is to present the list of the nominees for commissionership in the plenary while the nominees will follow with the submission of their credentials.
“They will be screened before confirmation.
“The governor sent three nominees on Monday and the list was read in the Parliamentary that day. Since it is a public document, we read the letter‎ second day in the plenary. Nobody submitted any credential. We don’t know the nominees. They have not submitted their credentials for the appropriate committees to screen them. It is surprising that the governor expects the House to confirm the nominees as sent. This is strange in parliamentary conduct.”
Omirin regretted that the governor responded by freezing the bank accounts of the House of Assembly, even as he insisted that one arm of government has no right and power to close down the activities of the other.
“How can you elevate ‎intimidation and blackmail to an art of governance? The Chief Judge was blackmailed that he took bribes of N20m to stall hearing on local council development areas case and another alleged N200m to reassign the E-Eleven’s perjury case to Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi to return guilty verdict on the governor.
“After the judiciary had been blackmailed to submission, it is now the turn of the parliament to be brought to its knees by the executive blackmailing members and freezing the accounts of the House as if the House is a department in the Governor’s Office.”
The Speaker said that the governor would have himself to blame if he continues in his anti-democratic conducts, making it clear that all members that have been mentioned in the bribery scandal would go to court to seek justice.
He said that Ekiti radio and television managements would account for libel contained in their broadcasts, saying also that all those involved in these damaging acts would be made to account for their actions.
The Speaker assured that the House would soon meet over reckless use of the state media to blackmail its members, adding that the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission would be put on notice on the reckless and unprofessional use of the state media to haunt the opposition. [myad]

PDP’s Monarchy And Challenges Within, By Garba Shehu

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2014

There is the joke about the parts of the body debating each other as to which of them is the most important.
The eyes said without me, you can’t see or know where you are going. The ear said, if I don’t hear, there is no way by which the body can react to danger. Brain said I am the processor of all information; without me doing my work, the coordination of the body will be in disarray. The hands said, wait-a-minute, if I don’t move things, including food into the mouth, how would energy be supplied to the other parts? The legs played up their role in motioning the body. The heart, liver, kidneys, the blood stream, all body parts celebrated their role but the one that won the debate was the arse-hole. Yet, it was the one that every body part derided. To show how important it was, the arse-hole shut down the discharge of body waste. It began as a simple joke until it got to the point that every other part couldn’t stand it. All was in a turmoil. In unison, all the contending parts said “okay, arse-hole, you have won, you are the most important”. No sooner had the waste been discharged than did relief come to the entire body. Normalcy resumed.
Seen in this context, it is not at all surprising that even in the developed countries, there are times when the least remunerated set of workers comes to the top of that which is most needed in the order of the normal running of the society. When refuse collectors go on strike, the whole place rots and stinks and all are pushed to the limits. Nothing seems okay until the garbage is cleared.
The decision of the top command of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to issue automatic tickets to 75% of their sitting Senators highlights the growing civil war within the ruling party as we inch towards the 2015 general elections.
The automatic nomination has come as a setback to the implacable might of the state governors. It is also a clear indication, that the PDP which handed the President, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, an automatic ticket to run in the coming election is now in no mood to oblige any “outsider” into the governing class.
The PDP Senators had earlier led the upper chamber into the first-ever legislative boycott. They forced the Senate to continually suspend its normal business, not to protest the rising tide of terror, or impose pressure on the President and the Generals to step up their war against the
Boko Haram or be swept as the opposition All Progressives Congress has demanded. They did not hide the fact that the protest was based on enlightened self-interest.
With the so-called resolution, the Senate is set to resume discussions on outstanding business of government from today, Wednesday.
The Vanguard newspaper reported a Senator, present at the meeting at which the President and the National leadership of the party addressed the legislators as saying that “after listening to our grievances, President Jonathan showed understanding of our plight and assured that the Senators would be allowed automatic tickets in 2015 general elections.”Added he: “This is a welcome development; a situation whereby about seventy-five percent of serving Senators are given automatic tickets to return after elections will strengthen our democracy.”
But let us see the other side of the battle. Automatic ticket raises both political moral issues for both the party and the President. If it is right for the President to seize the party’s ticket for the presidential contest, because he has the power to do so, there is obviously nothing that should make it wrong for the Senators to flex their muscle by sitting on government business in order to press the case for their’s. That’s how the arse-hole proved to all body parts that it is ranks the highest.
The Senate’s gains didn’t therefore come as a surprise even as the horse-trading for the automatic tickets puts the upper chamber under the scanner yet again.
The constitution envisages a Senate, which is a House of Elders representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory on an equal footing, carrying out more nuanced debates reflecting national interest and ensuring stability and the well-being of the federation.
While there are many Distinguished Senators who are indeed distinguishing themselves by the sheer commitment to duty they are putting in, it is hard to say if by this alone, there is anything going on to change the increasing perception of the upper chamber as a safe haven or protective cocoon. The Senate has become a cherished destination of governors and anyone who wants to avoid investigation and trial, a key reason why nomination has become much sought after.
That Dr. Jonathan and the Senators have floated a common front against the governors does not also in any way tell you that the crisis is all over.
As reported by the
Sunday Punch, the Governors, who got the short end of the stick have since rejected the so-called agreement. The Governor of Niger State, himself a Senatorial aspirant boasted in a statement that “no agreement reached anywhere with anybody can in anyway threaten governors’ ambition for the Senate.”
Aliyu stated that the clash of interest between the governors and Senators in the PDP would only be resolved by the electorate.
In Cross-Rivers State, the party leadership has recommended the Senate leader, Ndoma-Egba to the National Headquarters for suspension since they lacked the powers to sanction him. Fourteen of his staunch followers have since however been handed theirs. State party chairman, Nkufor John Okon said these men had ridiculed the party and gone against party rules. “Some” he added, “have gone to court against the party. Some have been induced to compromise the system.”
The race to enter the Senate for some of the governors is a do-or-die contest and all must understand what it means. To be free from possible prosecution or persecution if you will call it one, they just have to win. And a cursory look at history will show that no President has ever won against the PDP Governors.
President Obasanjo, who won a few bouts against some, used his international connections to cage them abroad.
A man called Norman Cousins said something interesting of the former American President Richard Nixon: Nixon’s Motto, he said was : if two wrongs don’t make a right, try three! There goes the PDP!! [myad]

Nigeria’s Opposition Party Describes Jonathan’s Declaration For 2015 As Callous

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2014

The main Nigeria’s opposition political party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as “utterly insensitive and absolutely callous” the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to declare his second term ambition a day after almost 50 students were killed and about 80 injured in a suicide bombing in Potiskum, Yobe State.
In a statement today by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC accused the President of “dancing on the graves of the students” as well as of all the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
”Since this President has chosen to celebrate a national tragedy, Nigerians should also be ready to celebrate his electoral failure next year.
”Today, the three North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe are in danger of being overrun by Boko Haram and over 650,000 Nigerians are internally displaced in those states by the insurgency. Yet, President Jonathan says he puts Nigerians first. Lies have never worn a bolder face. The truth is that for President Jonathan, it is Jonathan first, Jonathan second, Jonathan third, Jonathan always!”
The opposition party said that with the latest “act of blatant hard-heartedness, Jonathan was only continuing along his well-trodden path of acting without deep introspection.
”When about 60 students were killed in the terror attack on the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, in February 2014, President Jonathan never visited the scene to commiserate with the families of the victims. When over 80 people were killed in the first Nyanya bombing in April 2014, President Jonathan went dancing ‘Azonto’ in Kano less than 48 hours later. And when almost 300 girls were freshly abducted in Chibok, President Jonathan neither acted fast enough to rescue the girls nor visited the village. His Administration even denied anyone was abducted, until 19 days after.
”This President has therefore established a pattern of putting his political interest above the security and welfare of Nigerians who voted him into office. This President has trampled upon the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which makes the security and welfare of the citizenry the raison d’etre of the government’s existence.
“It is time for Nigerians to respond in kind by trampling on his political ambition and sending him back to Otuoke.”
The party queried the logic behind the Safe Schools Initiative of the Federal Government when over 70 students were killed and more than 100 maimed within a week in two separate attacks targeting a religious procession and schools in Potiskum alone.
“The Safe Schools Initiative will remain a mere tokenism until the fundamental problem of insurgency, which has claimed thousands of lives, is conclusively addressed. Mr. President, what Nigerians want is not an isolated Safe Schools Initiative, but a Safe Nigeria Initiative.” [myad]

President Jonathan Jumps In, Formally Declares To Contest 2015 Election

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2014

“I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to present myself on the platform of the PDP.” These were the decisive words from President Goodluck Jonathan today at the Eagle Square, Abuja before a large crowd of party supporters.
President Jonathan has been in the saddle of the Nigeria’s affairs since 2010, when he took over following the death of President Umara Yar’Adua. He also won election to continue in 2011.
Here are a few key activities and dates since he became substantive President in 2010:
May 6, 2010 — Interim president Jonathan is sworn in, a day after the death of Umaru Yar’Adua following a long illness. Yar’Adua had disappeared from public life for more than five months, during which Jonathan stood in.
April 9, 2011 — The first of a series of key election dates is marred by deadly bomb blasts.
April 16: Jonathan won the presidential election against his rival, Muhammadu Buhari. More than 800 die in post-electoral violence, according to Human Rights Watch.
November 4: At least 150 were killed in a series of attacks claimed by extremist Islamist group Boko Haram against police stations and churches in its northeastern stronghold.
December 25: A wave of attacks claimed by Boko Haram targeting churches during Christmas services and police leave nearly 50 people dead.
— 2012 —
January 9-16: A nationwide general strike called to protest against a doubling of the price of petrol, which the government had previously set at about $0.40 (0.32 euros) per litre. Jonathan ended the strike by agreeing to a subsidy that fixed the price at $0.60 per litre.
January 20: Coordinated attacks by Boko Haram against the symbols of power in the northern city of Kano leave 185 dead.
— 2013 —
May 16: The army launches an offensive against Boko Haram in the northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where Jonathan declares a state of emergency.
— 2014 —
February 2: Nigeria’s ruling party, weakened by mass defections and riven by months of in-fighting, is dealt a fresh blow, when one of its most senior figures, former vice president Atiku Abubakar left to join the main opposition, All Progressives Congress.
April 6: Nigeria becomes Africa’s biggest economy, leap-frogging South Africa, after the government announces a re-basing of the country’s gross domestic product.
April 14: At least 75 people die in a bomb blast in a bus station on the outskirts of Abuja — the deadliest attack yet to strike the city. Boko Haram claims responsibility. Two other attacks, in May and June, leave at least 40 dead in the capital.
– 276 teenage girls were abducted from their school by Boko Haram gunmen in Chibok, a remote corner of Borno state. Fifty-seven of the girls manage to flee, while 219 are still captive.
May 7: Jonathan hosts the World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja, an event aimed at highlighting the continent’s growing economic strength, but is overshadowed by the Chibok hostage crisis.
August 24: Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau said in a video that he has created an Islamic caliphate in the northeast town of Gwoza. The group took control of several dozen towns and villages in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
October 17: The army and the presidency announce a ceasefire with Boko Haram and an accord for the release of the schoolgirls. Boko Haram denies the accord and says on November 1 that the schoolgirls have converted to Islam and been married off.
November 11: Jonathan announces he is standing for re-election.
He has been heavily criticized for having not stamped out the Boko Haram insurgency which has left more than 10,000 dead over the past five years. [myad]

I’ve Developed A Bond With Nigerians In spite of Difficult Times, Jonathan Says As He Declares To Run In 2015

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has acknowledged that God has made it possible for him to develop a bond with Nigerians even as he expressed gratitude for their support and understanding in the difficult periods the nationa has journeyed through.
He also acknowledged that he has been leading Nigeria through what he described as “uncommon challenges” in its march to progress as a united and democratic country.
Dr. Jonathan was speaking today at the Eagle Square, Abuja where he formally declared his intention to contest the 2015 Presidential election for his second term in office.
The President said that his stewardship has not been without challenges, saying that he had had to deal with the wave of insurgency that has swept through some parts of the country.
“Only yesterday, Government Science Secondary School in Yobe State was bombed by insurgents, killing our promising young children who were seeking education to build the country and support their parents. Many Nigerians have lost their lives and property to these mindless killings.
“Let me crave the indulgence of all present here to stand up to observe a minutes silence in honour of these young lads who lost their lives. Clearly, this has cast a dark cloud on our Nation but we will surely win the war against terror.
“A number of young men and women have been kidnapped by these criminal elements including our daughters from Chibok. We will free our daughters and defeat terror.”
President Jonathan assured that his government is equipping the armed forces and deploying special forces to engage the terrorist and end this senseless war.
“We must protect our country. We must save our people. I will do everything humanly possible to end this criminal violence in our Nation.”
To ensure the long term stability and development of the affected areas, he said, government has launched three programmes: The Presidential Initiative for the North East, the Victim Support Fund and the Safe School Initiative. The Presidential Initiative for the Northeast is focused on improving infrastructure and economic growth in the region.
“The Safe School Initiative is centred on creating a safe environment to encourage our children in the communities to acquire education. The Victim Support Fund, a partnership with the Private Sector, has raised about 60 billion Naira, which will help to empower and rehabilitate victims of terror.
“I promise the victims of these dastardly acts that we will continue to stand with you. I am grateful to all Nigerians for standing with us.”
President Jonathan thanked the leaders and elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the opportunity they have given to him to serve the country.
“I am overwhelmed by the trust, confidence and support of the various organs of our party, the Board of Trustees, the National Caucus, the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, the PDP Governors Forum, members of the PDP Caucuses of the National Assembly, and others.” [myad]

Nigeria Angry With The US For Allegedly Abandoning Her In Fight Against Boko Haram

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2014

Nigeria is obviously not happy with the United States of America which it accused of refusing to sell “lethal weapons” to fight the country’s Islamic uprising, represented by Boko Haram. Nigeria insisted that such attitude had prolonged the battle with Boko Haram.
The country’s position was made known on Monday by the Nigeria’ Ambassador to the US, Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo to members of the Washington-based council on foreign relations meeting at his embassy.
He was emphatic that the United States has let down Nigeria which has been its old ally, ” in its hour of need. Nigeria’s people and government feel abandoned by America.
“The US government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time.
“We find it difficult to understand how and why, in spite of the US presence in Nigeria with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly.”
Nigeria’s military chief on 17 October announced that the Boko Haram Islamic extremist group had agreed to an immediate cease-fire, but the militants have responded with more and deadlier attacks and now control an area of some 20, 000km along the border with Cameroon.
Adefuye confirmed that Washington has refused Nigeria’s requests for certain weaponry because of allegations that Nigeria’s defence forces have been violating the human rights of detainees accused of belonging to Boko Haram.
Human rights groups and an Associated Press investigation found Nigerian troops responsible for the deaths of thousands of detainees since a state of military emergency was imposed in May 2014 in the three northeastern states where the insurgency has destroyed any semblance of normal life.
US laws have banned the sales of lethal weapons to countries whose military are accused of gross human rights abuses.
Adefuye said the allegations are based on rumours spread by political opponents and journalists who favour the opposition as Nigeria prepares for February presidential elections. [myad]

School Bombing: Yobe Closes Down Schools

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2014

The Yobe Government has closed down all public and private schools in the state, following Monday’s suicide bomb attack on Government Science Secondary School, Potiskum.
The attack had claimed 48 lives and injured 79 others. The state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Muhammad Lamin, said in a statement in Damaturu today that the closure was with immediate effect.
Lamin said that government decided to close the schools to enable it adopt more security measures to guarantee the safety of students, teachers and the school environment across the state.
This is even ad Senator Alkali Jajere, representing Yobe South Senatorial District in the Senate, has appealed for a change in strategy by security operatives to contain insurgency in the state.
Jajere who spoke with journalists in Damaturu, said that the renewed attacks on innocent people of the state called for a change in strategy in the fight against insurgency.
“The number one responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property of the citizenry; government must live up to this basic responsibility.
“We are optimistic that with the necessary support and motivation, the Nigerian security forces can defeat insurgency.”
The senator advised security agents to respect the rules of engagement in their operation, and called for synergy between law enforcement agents and the public to effectively fight insurgency. [myad]

New Media And Kangaroo Journalists, By Femi Davies

Greenbarge Reporters

November 11, 2014

The advent of new media also known as Online gave birth to what can be termed kangaroo journalists who suddenly become mega writers with ability to own a domain site, a laptop and fast fingers.
It is such a shame that the basic training expected before anyone can practice is not on the mind of these commercial writers.
To them, being a journalist is the needed weapon to obtain money from celebrities, opinion leaders, politicians and all attention seeking people.
The ethos of the journalistic profession, of removing judgement from news reporting and giving equal opportunities to all sides, was the first casualty of the kangaroo journalist, he cares neither for objectivity, the fundamental right to reply nor is he interested in the reputation and livelihood of those he is supposedly maligning just for the fun of it.
The role of the press, from time immemorial, is to inform, educate and entertain. These however, do not exclude the press from the economic realities and the cost implication of running a business, hence the resort to advert support for survival.
This delicate relationship between the media and advertisers, in any shape or form, has been on since the dawn of the profession, and over time, a delicate balance was achieved in which advert relationship has little or nothing to do with the direction of editorial policy.
All these rules, developed over time, mean absolute nothing to the kangaroo journalist. his main aim is to use his platform for blackmail, and because until now, he has nothing to lose, he assumed he could get away with it.
It is therefore not surprising, that a blogger of no repute, who has had face offs with the Niger State Government over issues of editorial blackmail, could not differentiate between an advert on a news site and a PR package. While one is a clear cut Above The Line transaction, the other is essentially a public relations function.
So, when such a blogger goes to town, impugning on the integrity of seasoned journalists and insinuating an act of wrongdoing on their part, simply because their news sites were given adverts, which was appropriately placed and visible, the same advert the said blogger lobbied for but did not get, then you know such a person needed to have his head examined.
For the records, Metronews would continue to uphold the tenants of the journalism profession, because unlike our friend, the blackmail blogger, we have a reputation to protect.
To the likes of Tego Oghenedoro or should we add Fejiro Oliver and their likes, if they refuse to get trained and adopt the rules of the game, their blackmail antics will only fetch them visits and clashes with the security agencies.

. Femi Davies is the Publisher of MetroNews Online. [myad]

Falling Oil Price Worries President Jonathan, Wants Oil Producing Countries To Sit Up

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed worries over the current challenge of falling crude oil prices and called on oil producing countries to cooperate more and work together to overcome the challenge.
Speaking today at an audience with Angola’s new Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Eustaquio Janeiero Quibato, President Jonathan said that African oil producing countries in particular needed to come together and strategize on the best ways of protecting their domestic economies from the vagaries of fluctuating oil prices.
“We are blessed with oil and we must continue to do all that we possibly can to maximize its benefits for our countries and the African continent.” President Jonathan said that Nigeria and Angola have always had cordial bilateral relations and called for the expansion of trade, economic, cultural and political cooperation between the two countries.
“For years, we have had a solid relationship. Historically, we have been together. So Nigeria and Angola should also work with greater synergy at continental and global fora.”
At another audience with Hungary’s new Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Ternak Gabor, the President called for greater international support and assistance for the West African countries that continue to be plagued by the Ebola Virus Disease.
President Jonathan also received Letters of Credence from the new ambassador of Burundi, Mr. Mathias Haranungarawe and the new ambassador of Serbia, Prof. Jovan Maric.
He wished all the new ambassadors very successful tenures in Nigeria and assured them that they will receive the full cooperation of the Federal Government as they work to enhance bilateral relations between their countries and Nigeria.

[myad]

Jonathan Knocks Off From Government List, Contractors Not On BPP Data Base

Greenbarge Reporters

November 10, 2014

President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) that from the 2015 financial year, any contractor that is not in its database should not be allowed to do contract business of any sort with the Federal Government.
The President gave this directive today in Abuja, when he declared open the first National Conference on Public Procurement (NACOPP), with the theme “Public Procurement: A tool for Good Governance.”
The President’s directive followed the BPP’s categorization and classification of Federal Contractors and service providers into equal competences and capacity for bidding purposes.
Jonathan whose speech was delivered by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, said that any company debarred by the World Bank, Africa Development Bank and UNDP, as well as other development partners stands automatically debarred from contracting processes in Nigeria.
“This action is intended to eliminate distortions in bidding costs that tend to create the impression that project costs in Nigeria are higher than in other countries.”
President Jonathan noted that reforms in the procurement process has yielded positive results on the economy, adding: “being a good governance tool, procurement reform has enhanced the activities of other agencies of government.”
He said that as a first in the World, Nigeria is setting up the first International Procurement Platform to facilitate an interface between a regulatory authority and procuring entities and service providers.
President Jonathan reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthen the BPP, commended the 24 states that have passed procurement laws, even as he charged the remaining 12 states to urgently follow suit. He also asked all the States to give adequate protection to the regulatory agencies to effectively discharge their duties.
“It is important to reiterate that Nigeria runs one economy and therefore the need for one set of rules governing our contracting processes cannot be over emphasized.
“All States that are yet to pass the law are urged to pass them while those that have passed the law are urged to strengthen them in order to ensure delivery of services at best cost to the people.”
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that the BPP is a tool for fiscal saving and transparency even as she called on stakeholders to support the Bureau in the discharge of its mandate.
In his own address, the Director-General of the BPP, Dr. Emeka Eze, said the Conference is intended to bring all states of the federation to subscribe to one set of National procedure in public procurement.
Dr. Eze said that as part of its mandate to reduce the scope of corruption and improve efficiency in the system, the Bureau from year 2009 to date had saved the country over N528 billion in project reviews. He also disclosed that the BPP had recommended over 180 companies to the ICPC and the EFCC for investigation on fraudulent activities.
The Public Procurement Act was enacted in 2007, establishing the BPP. The BPP is charged with the responsibility to amongst others provide legal and institutional framework and professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria.
The 1st National Conference on Public Procurement is holding in Abuja from November, 10-11, 2014. The conference is hosted by the National Public Procurement Forum (NPPF) and being implemented by the National Planning Committee and supported by the BPP.

[myad]

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